# Little Orpheus

Little Orpheus is a 2020 adventure-platform game developed by The Chinese Room and published by Sumo Digital. The game was released on Apple Arcade on 12 June 2020 for iOS, macOS, and tvOS. Ports for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S were released by subsidiary label Secret Mode on 13 September 2022.

## Gameplay

The game is a 2.5D adventure platform game, featuring cinematic platforming and environmental storytelling.

## Development and release

The game was first shown in an Apple Arcade showcase at the Apple Event on 25 March 2019. The company's Twitter account posted a teaser with a cryptic message in the form of a telegram. Creative Europe had published the application of successful grants in August 2017, with a project "Little Orpheus" being awarded a maximum of grant €72 339 with 50% co-funding.
Creative Director Dan Pinchbeck said the game's intent was described as applying the studio's "arthouse background to traditional genres moving forward" and with a world filled with ridiculous "Soviet space technology, Russian mythology, and ancient creatures", like a homage to Ray Harryhausen movies.
The game was released on Apple Arcade on 12 June 2020. A new game plus mode was released on 9 October 2020. An update added episode 9 on 15 January 2021. The title was set to release on Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on 1 March 2022 but was delayed due to its Soviet themes in light of the Russo-Ukrainian War. The game launched on 13 September 2022.

## Reception
### Critical reception

Aggregate score :
| Aggregator | Score |
| Metacritic | IOS: 71/100 PC: 67/100 PS4: 68/100 NS: 65/100 XSXS: 72/100 |
Review scores :
| Publication | Score |
| Destructoid | 7/10 |
| IGN | 8/10 |
| Nintendo Life | |
| Pocket Gamer | |
| The Guardian | |
| VideoGamer.com | 7/10 |
Little Orpheus received "mixed or average" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.
Matt Gardner of Forbes gave the game a mixed review, praising its story but criticizing its gameplay: "Little Orpheus over-relies its strongest assets–great voice acting, an intriguing script, beautiful art, and engaging gameplay–and doesn’t hit these highs with its core gameplay." Nintendo Life's Lowell Bell criticized the narration of the game: "there’s no narrative payoff here, no greater meaning or memorable conclusion that sticks with you".

### Accolades

Develop awarded it Best Mobile Game at the Star Awards in 2021. Pocket Gamer awarded it Best Platformer Game in 2021.
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
| Apple Design Awards | June 10, 2021 | Best Game: Delight and Fun | Little Orpheus | Won |
| Apple Design Awards | June 10, 2021 | Best Game: Visuals and Graphics | Little Orpheus | Nominated |
| D.I.C.E Awards | April 22, 2021 | Mobile Game of the Year | Dan Pinchbeck, Alex Girling, Matt Duff, Rob McLachlan | Nominated |
| D.I.C.E Awards | April 22, 2021 | Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition | Jessica Curry, Jim Fowler | Nominated |
| TIGA Awards | November 24, 2020 | Best Casual Game | Little Orpheus | Won |
| TIGA Awards | November 24, 2020 | Best Visual Game | Little Orpheus | Nominated |
| TIGA Awards | November 24, 2020 | Best Action and Adventure Game | Little Orpheus | Nominated |
| Ivor Novello Awards | September 21, 2021 | Best Original Videogame Score | Jessica Curry, Jim Fowler | Nominated |
| Golden Joystick Awards | November 24, 2020 | Best Mobile Game | Little Orpheus | Nominated |
| The Game Audio Network Guild Awards | April 28, 2021 | Best New Original IP - Audio | Little Orpheus | Nominated |